Shielded angular drive transmitting joint and shielded quickly detachable coupling thereof

ABSTRACT

A shielded angular drive assembly such as a drive transmitting joint adapted for connection to the power takeoff shaft of an agricultural vehicle is provided with a shielded externally actuatable quick detachable coupling by which the drive transmitting shaft can be easily connected to and disconnected from the power take-off shaft of a vehicle and to the power input shaft of the driven auxiliary unit and in which the mechanism of the coupling is completely enclosed to prevent injury to personnel resulting from inadvertent contact with the coupling while the shaft is rotating and to prevent entanglement of stray objects in the rotating components of the coupling.

United States Patent [191 Young et a1.

[54] SHIELDED ANGULAR DRIVE TRANSMITTING JOINT AND SHIELDED QUICKLYDETACHABLE COUPLING THEREOF [75] Inventors: John R. Young; John C.McElwain,

both of Rochester, Mich.

[73] Assignee: North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 211,202

[52] US. Cl. ..64/32, 64/6, 287/119 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6d 18/32 [58] Fieldof Search ..64/32, 4, 6;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,559 8/1960 Recker..64/4 3,344,618 10/1967 Young ..64/4

111 3,733,354 1 May 22, 1973 3,357,206 12/1967 Christie ..64/6 3,503,2253/1970 Shindelar et al ..64/4 3,551,013 12/1970 Trojanowski et al...64/6

Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-Randall I-lealdAttorneyJohn R. Bronaugh et al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A shielded angular drive assembly such as a drivetransmitting joint adapted for connection to the power takeoff shaft ofan agricultural vehicle is provided with a shielded externallyactuatable quick detachable coupling by which the drive transmittingshaft can be easily connected to and disconnected from the powertake-off shaft of a vehicle and to the power in-put shaft of the drivenauxiliary unit and in which the mechanism of the coupling is completelyenclosed to prevent injury to personnel resulting from inadvertentcontact with the coupling while the shaft is rotating and to prevententanglement of stray objects in the rotating components of thecoupling.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3,733,854

SHIELDED ANGULAR DRIVE TRANSMITTING JOINT AND SHIELDED QUICKLYDETACHABLE COUPLING THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates in general to shielded angular drive assemblies, oneform of which is illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,418,828, issued Dec. 31,1968 to S. Leroy Carns for Shielded Angular Drive Assembly. Suchassemblies are frequently provided with quickly detachable couplings ateach end. One form of prior art coupling of that type is thatillustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,480,310, issued Nov. 25, 1969 to J. C.McElwain for Quick Detachable Coupling.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides an improved shieldedangular drive assembly and in particular an improved quick detachablecoupling for such an assembly in which the mechanism of the quickdetachable coupling is completely enclosed within a shield which isnormally rotatable relative to and independently of the internalcomponents of the coupling and which cannot be positively driven by theinternal coupling components whereby, not only the shafting and theuniversal joints of such an assembly are shielded as in the aforesaidpatent to Carns, but also the components of the quick detachablecoupling itself are fully shielded. A further feature of this inventionis that the shield or the quick detachable coupling is manipulated whilethe coupling is at rest to effect release of the quick detachablecoupling from the shaft to which it is connected when desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, the upperhalf of which is shown in cross section, of one end of a shaft assemblyshowing in detail the universal joint, the quick detachable coupling,the connection of the universal joint to the shafting of the assemblyand the shielding for the coupling joint and shaft;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now in detail to the drawings andparticularly to FIG. 1, the power transmitting shaft assembly of thepresent invention comprises a pair of axially slidably interfittingrelative non-rotatably connected shafts and 12 to the oppositelyprojecting ends of which are connected universal joint assemblies suchas univeral joint assembly 14.

Universal joint assembly 14 comprises a pair of yokes 16 and 18interconnected by a cross 20 journaled relative to the yokes 16 and 18by antifriction bearings (not shown). Yoke 16 is fixed to the end ofshaft 10 by welding as indicated at 22.

The universaljoint assembly 14 is shielded by a shield assemblycomprising a pair of bells 24 and 26 frictionally retained upon theyokes l6 and 18 respectively and an annular bridging shield member 28frictionally retained relative to the members 24 and 26. The shafting,

formed by the shafts 10 and 12, is shielded by a pair of interfittingtubular shields 30 and 32 axially fixed relative to and lightlyrotatably frictionally retained relative to the shafts 10 and 12respectively.

The shielded quickly detachable coupling 34 is illustrated at the leftin FIG. 1.

As in the aforesaid McElwain patent, the locking mechanism of the quickdetachable coupling 34 comprises a plurality of equiangularly spacedlocking pins 36 mounted for radial movement in radially extendingopenings through the hub 38 of the yoke 18, a surrounding locking cam 40which is mounted for limited angular motion about the axis of the hub 38between a locking position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and an unlockingposition. The locking position of cam 40 is established by the abutmentof the radial shoulders 42 from the cam 40 against the enlarged heads 44of the locking pins 36. In this position, the locking pins 36 areprevented from moving radially outwardly relative to the hub 38 by theconfining annular surfaces 46 on the cam 40.

The cam 40 is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 2 until the circumferential surfaces 48 of the cam 40 are alignedwith the heads 44 of the locking pins 36. Since the surfaces 48 of thecam 40 are spaced radially from the axis of the hub 38 a greaterdistance than the surfaces 46, when the cam 40 is so rotated, the pins36 are free to move radially outwardly relative to the hub 38 topositions in which they no longer project within the bore of the hub 38.

The cam 40 is biased annularly to its locking position as illustrated inFIG. 2 by a torsion spring 60 engaged with the cam 40 at 52 and with thehub 38 at 54 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The spring is enclosed within anannular spring retainer housing 56 as shown in FIG. 1.

The mechanism of the quick detachable coupling as thus far described isenclosed within a shield cover 58. Cover 58 is of generally annularconfiguration having a radially extending flange 60 along with a throughaperture 62 through which the hub 38 of the yoke 18 extends. The limitsof axial movement of the flange 60 relative to the hub 38 of the yoke 18are defined by a pair of snap rings 64 and 68 retained in annulargrooves 70 and 72 in the hub 38.

The cover 58 has an external axially extending portion 74 which extendstoward the bell 26 over the cam 40, the spring 50 and the springretainer 56 to enclose these components 40, 50 and 56 and preventcontact with them by persons or objects adjacent the assembly. Theright-hand end of the annular portion 74 of the shield cover 58 has aninternal annular groove 76 dimensioned to receive the annular hub of thebell 26 when the cover shield 58 is shifted axially to the right fromits position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The cover shield 58 is formed externally with finger grip recesses asshown so that it may be manually moved to the right as viewed In FIG. 1into one-way clutching engagement with the cam 40 as will now beexplained. The face of cam 40 adjacent the flange 60 of the cover shield58 is formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced clutch teeth 78 ofthe configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. When the cover shield58 is moved to the right in FIG. 1, these clutch teeth 78 are engagedwith clutch notches 80 also equiangularly spaced and like in number andof the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. As is apparentfrom the configuration of the clutch teeth 78 and the complementarynotches 80, when the cover shield 58 is moved to the right as viewed inFIG. 1, if the cam 40 is at rest, the teeth 78 can be engaged with thenotches 80 and, by rotation of the cover shield 58, the cam 40 can berotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to releasethe lock pins 36 as previously described. If the shaft is rotating inits normal direction (also counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2), andthus imparting rotation to the cam 40, it is possible to engage thenotches 80 with the teeth 78 since their inclined surfaces are sooriented relative to the direction of rotation of the yoke 18 that theinclined surfaces 79 of the rotating teeth 78 will engage the inclinedsurfaces 81 of the notches 80 and axially cam the cover shield 58 to theleft as viewed in FIG. 1 thereby preventing engagement between theshield cover 58 and the cam 40.

In summary therefore, the entire assembly including the shafts and 12,the universaljoints 14 at each end of the assembly and the operatingmechanism of the quick detachable coupling are completely enclosedwithin annular shields rotatable relative thereto formed by the covershield 58, bell 26, annular member 28, bell 24 and interfitting sleeves30 and 32. Any personnel contacting this shaft assembly while it isrotating is completely isolated from the rotating components of theshaft assembly. Likewise the rotating components of the shaft assemblywill not become entangled with any objects which may come near them.

What is claimed is:

l. A fully shielded drive transmitting joint of the type wherein two endmembers are interconnected for relative angular movement, whereinopposed interfitting shield members rotatably mounted on said endmembers cooperate with each other and with a further bridging shieldmember to provide and maintain enclosure of the joint, a quickdetachable coupling mechanism on one of said end members having alocking position and a release position whereby said one of said endmembers can be selectively drive connected and locked to the end of ashaft, the improvement comprising an annular shield enclosing saidquickly detachable coupling mechanism and mounted on said one of saidend members for limited axial movement and for rotation relativethereto, and means operable upon axial movement of said mechanism shieldto one of its limits of axial movement and simultaneous limited rotarymovement of said mechanism shield while at such limit of its axialmovement to actuate said mechanism to its release position whereby saidone of said end members can be drive connected to or disconnected fromsuch a shaft.

2. The combination defined in claim I wherein said mechanism actuatingmeans comprises a clutch mechanism.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said clutch mechanism is aunidirectional clutch mechanism arranged to transmit movement from saidshield only in the normal direction of rotation of said one end memberwhereby positive drive rotation of said shield in response to rotationof said one end member is preeluded.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said clutch mechanismcomprises at least one pair of engageable ratchet teeth.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said one of said one endmembers has a hub with an internally splined bore; wherein said lockingmechanism comprises a plurality of locking pins mounted on said hub formovement from and to locking positions in which said pins project intosaid bore and a locking cam mounted on said hub in cooperative relationwith said pins and movable between opposed limit positions in one ofwhich positions said pins are locked in their locking positions and inthe other of which positions said pins are released for movement fromtheir locking positions to permit insertion into and removal from saidbore of a complementarily externally splined shaft, and means normallybiasing said cam toward its limit position wherein said pins are lockedin their locking positions.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said locking pins aremounted for movement radially of said bore.

7. The joint defined in claim 1 wherein said two end members are opposedyokes and are interconnected by a cross and bearing assembly thusforming a universal joint.

8. A shielded quick detachable torque transmitting coupling assemblymanipulatable for connecting and disconnecting an inner member innon-rotatable relation with a surrounding outer member while precludinginadvertent contact with said members, cooperating axially slidablyintertitting means on said members for non-rotatably connecting saidmembers, an external recess on said inner member, locking means movablymounted on said outer member with a portion thereof adapted to extendinto said recess, axially fixed cam means rotatably mounted on saidouter member for limited movement between a locking position where saidcam means engages said locking means and positively projects saidportion of said locking means into said recess and a nonlocking positionwherein said cam means permits displacement of said locking meansoutwardly of said recess, resilient means normally biasing said cammeans into locking position, a coupling mechanism shielding casingmounted on said outer member surrounding and enclosing said cam meansand said resilient means to prevent inadvartent contact therewith, saidshielding casing being rotatable relative to and mounted for limitedaxial movement relative to said cam means, and coacting axiallyengageable unidirectional clutch means on said cam means and saidcasing, said casing being axially shiftable to engage said clutch meansand thereby prevent rotation of said cam member by manipulation of saidcasing to release said locking means and permit axial engagement ordisengagement of said inner and outer members.

9. The coupling defined in claim 8 wherein said slidably interfittingmeans are complementary splines on said inner and outer members.

10. The coupling defined in claim 8 wherein torque is normallytransmitted between said inner and outer members only in one directionof rotation thereof and wherein said unidirectional clutch means isoriented to permit rotation of said cam means by said shielding casingonly in the same direction as said one direction so that during normalrotation of said inner and outer members, said clutch means cannot beengaged to drive the casing shield from said cam means on said outermember.

1. A fully shielded drive transmitting joint of the type wherein two endmembers are interconnected for relative angular movement, whereinopposed interfitting shield members rotatably mounted on said endmembers cooperate with each other and with a further bridging shieldmember to provide and maintain enclosure of the joint, a quickdetachable coupling mechanism on one of said end members having alocking position and a release position whereby said one of said endmembers can be selectively drive connected and locked to the end of ashaft, the improvement comprising an annular shield enclosing saidquickly detachable coupling mechanism and mounted on said one of saidend members for limited axial movement and for rotation relativethereto, and means operable upon axial movement of said mechanism shieldto one of its limits of axial movement and simultaneous limited rotarymovement of said mechanism shield while at such limit of its axialmovement to actuate said mechanism to its release position whereby saidone of said end members can be drive connected to or disconnected fromsuch a shaft.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein saidmechanism actuating means comprises a clutch mechanism.
 3. Thecombination defined in claim 2 wherein said clutch mechanism is aunidirectional clutch mechanism arranged to transmit movement from saidshield only in the normal direction of rotation of said one end memberwhereby positive drive rotation of said shield in response to rotationof said one end member is precluded.
 4. The combination defined in claim3 wherein said clutch mechanism comprises at least one pair ofengageable ratchet teeth.
 5. The combination defined in claim 2 whereinsaid one of said one end members has a hub with an internally splinedbore; wherein said locking mechanism comprises a plurality of lockingpins mounted on said hub for movement from and to locking positions inwhich said pins project into said bore and a locking cam mounted on saidhub in cooperative relation with said pins and movable between opposedlimit positions in one of which positions said pins are locked in theirlocking positions and in the other of which positions said pins arereleased for movement from their locking positions to permit insertioninto and removal from said bore of a complementarily externally splinedshaft, and means normally biasing said cam toward its limit positionwherein said pins are locked in their locking positions.
 6. Thecombination defined in claim 5 wherein said locking pins are mounted formovement radially of said Bore.
 7. The joint defined in claim 1 whereinsaid two end members are opposed yokes and are interconnected by a crossand bearing assembly thus forming a universal joint.
 8. A shielded quickdetachable torque transmitting coupling assembly manipulatable forconnecting and disconnecting an inner member in non-rotatable relationwith a surrounding outer member while precluding inadvertent contactwith said members, cooperating axially slidably interfitting means onsaid members for non-rotatably connecting said members, an externalrecess on said inner member, locking means movably mounted on said outermember with a portion thereof adapted to extend into said recess,axially fixed cam means rotatably mounted on said outer member forlimited movement between a locking position where said cam means engagessaid locking means and positively projects said portion of said lockingmeans into said recess and a nonlocking position wherein said cam meanspermits displacement of said locking means outwardly of said recess,resilient means normally biasing said cam means into locking position, acoupling mechanism shielding casing mounted on said outer membersurrounding and enclosing said cam means and said resilient means toprevent inadvartent contact therewith, said shielding casing beingrotatable relative to and mounted for limited axial movement relative tosaid cam means, and coacting axially engageable unidirectional clutchmeans on said cam means and said casing, said casing being axiallyshiftable to engage said clutch means and thereby prevent rotation ofsaid cam member by manipulation of said casing to release said lockingmeans and permit axial engagement or disengagement of said inner andouter members.
 9. The coupling defined in claim 8 wherein said slidablyinterfitting means are complementary splines on said inner and outermembers.
 10. The coupling defined in claim 8 wherein torque is normallytransmitted between said inner and outer members only in one directionof rotation thereof and wherein said unidirectional clutch means isoriented to permit rotation of said cam means by said shielding casingonly in the same direction as said one direction so that during normalrotation of said inner and outer members, said clutch means cannot beengaged to drive the casing shield from said cam means on said outermember.